IDNO

N.132098.MST

Description

On Strathern's listing: Mi (Taboo sign) put up for tipu rømi (wild spirits) with jawbones of 3 pigs (pigs were killed for the tipu who are told to keep away).
The sign is made with cordyline (Pidgin tangket) branches.

Place

Oceania Melanesia; Papua New Guinea; Western Highlands Province; towards Mope; Kawelka Membo country

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Strathern, Marilyn (later Prof., Dame)

Collector / Expedition

Date

18 May 1964

Collection Name

Strathern Collection

Source

Strathern, Marilyn (Prof., Dame)

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

N.132096.MST - N.132115.MST were identified by Marilyn Strathern as Set 9.

Context: Kor Wakl = see Tipu Rømi. [Strathern's Glossary word document, JD 4/26/2017]

Context: Tipu Rømi or Kor Wakl = wild spirits. They are associated with particular places. They are capricious and unpredictable, and attack if they think people have taken what is theirs, e.g when new gardens are cut into places where the spirits live. (MS. Women in Between. 1972: 170). [Strathern's Glossary word document, JD 4/26/2017]

Context: mi = substance, usually a plant, with which each tribe is associated (p194); sometimes translated as ‘totem’, it is used in divination. Can also be a taboo sign. (Melpa). [Strathern's Glossary word document, JD 4/25/2017]

Context: tangket = Pidgin term for cordyline plant. [Strathern's Glossary word document, JD 4/18/2017]

A grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation Historical Archives Program supported the documentation and preservation of the Strathern photographic collection. [JD 6/11/2017]